ELMONT, N.Y. — Mikko Rantanen skated to middle ice at UBS Area and a well-recognized sound emanated from his teammates close to the bench.
“Moooose.”
Rantanen scooped up the puck on his stick, easily moved towards the goaltender after which snapped a shot off the crossbar and into the online. His teammates cheered his slick shootout objective close to the tip of observe.
That was the one factor that felt acquainted Monday morning on the New York Islanders‘ enviornment.
Rantanen was dressed all in crimson. He was practising with the Carolina Hurricanes for the primary time, preparing for his second recreation together with his new group after a blockbuster commerce that marked the tip of his time in Colorado and shocked the hockey world.
“Yesterday was a day without work, so loads of ideas had been going by my head,” Rantanen mentioned. “I feel it’s settled in now, for positive, nevertheless it’s nonetheless early, so possibly it should settle in much more within the subsequent couple of weeks. Guys are nice right here. They’ve been very welcoming, in order that makes it simpler.”
Rantanen is within the last season of a six-year contract. He might be an unrestricted free agent in July.
Within the aftermath of the commerce, a three-team doozy that additionally despatched Chicago’s Taylor Corridor to Carolina whereas bringing Martin Necas and Jack Drury to Colorado, there’s been some reporting on the place issues stood on contract negotiations with Rantanen, who’s represented by Octagon Sports activities, and the Avalanche.
“I used to be able to take a major low cost for my market worth,” Rantanen mentioned. “We had some chats, like a pair days earlier than. Then they traded me. That’s what occurred. That’s why I didn’t anticipate what occurred.
“I don’t need to go precisely into the numbers. I feel some numbers have gone out already, I’ve heard. All I can say is, I used to be able to take a reduction.”
Rantanen wasn’t the one one stunned by the commerce. Nathan MacKinnon mentioned it was stunning and unhappy. Jared Bednar referred to as it a tough day.
When Rantanen spoke shortly after his first recreation Saturday night time, he wasn’t the identical vivacious character that made him a beloved determine in Denver, each contained in the locker room and out.
Now that he’s had slightly time to decompress, is there something he needs would have gone in another way?
“I don’t know. I didn’t know we had been in a rush,” Rantanen mentioned. “That’s what I felt like. That’s my trustworthy opinion. However it’s enterprise and I perceive. They’re attempting to assume what’s greatest for them and also you’ve received to know that. You’ve received to know they’re solely doing the enterprise how they assume it’s good for his or her future.”
Rantanen spent Sunday wandering round New York Metropolis together with his girlfriend, attempting to assist the transfer sink in and prepare to maneuver ahead. Because of the quirks of the NHL schedule, the Avalanche and Hurricanes are hanging out in the identical metro space.
Colorado had Monday off and can play right here Tuesday at UBS Area. Carolina will transfer into town and play the Rangers at Madison Sq. Backyard.
Rantanen spoke with MacKinnon shortly after the commerce, and has chatted with a number of of his now-former teammates. There’s an opportunity he may cross paths with them once more on this journey.
“On the finish of the day, it’s about work, and generally folks change locations,” Rantanen mentioned. “Not each mailman or each physician is in the identical hospital or working for a similar firm the entire time. This stuff occur to folks on a regular basis. That is possibly extra emotional than a standard swap, however I feel you’ve received to be mentally robust. It helps that we play loads of video games. The video games assist to not take into consideration the previous, to consider the group now and assist this group.”
Rantanen joins a group that was already among the many Stanley Cup contenders, and now has added one of many high gamers on the earth (Rantanen) and a former league MVP (Corridor). His new coach, Rod Brind’Amour, mentioned he’ll want time to determine how the Hurricanes wish to play, however they know they’ve added an amazing participant.
“Very thrilling,” Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin mentioned. “I feel on a decrease observe, I’m excited to not must defend him anymore once we come to Colorado and our lungs are sucking wind. He’s an unbelievable participant, probably the greatest within the league. It’s large for us.
“He’s a giant boy. He skates properly. He performs arduous. He’s received the ability and he performs a tough recreation, so it’s going to be good for have that with our system.”
The Avalanche started the method of transferring on with its first win because the deal Sunday afternoon in opposition to the Rangers. Drury scored a objective. Necas was dynamic, accumulating two assists and hitting each the crossbar and publish with pictures whereas taking part in in Rantanen’s outdated spot subsequent to MacKinnon.
Colorado’s employees had already moved the Avs’ gear into the realm close to the visiting room on the Islanders enviornment. The hallway was crammed with Colorado tools baggage. The Hurricanes had been briefly within the dwelling dressing room after observe Monday.
There was one burgundy-and-blue bag amongst a sea of crimson.
“Properly, I feel 2022 is the one, the perfect time that we had (in Colorado),” Rantanen mentioned. “It was massive. Ten years is a very long time being in a corporation. It was very welcoming. Like I put it out in my assertion yesterday, it was a very good time on a regular basis. My rookie yr, we weren’t a profitable group, however after that we made the playoffs yearly.
“We had been a profitable group and to win all of it with that group was a dream come true.”
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